ALMOST IS NEVER ENOUGH | TVD [2]

I • THE BIRTHDAY

one. the birthday

Mystic Falls Town Square

Caroline is talking to Minerva, who is at Elena's house, on the phone while wearing and using her AirPods as she casually walks through the local park.

"What are you doing?" The graduated high school senior asked, smiling, considering today is the day of Rosalina Kartwright's birthday as a hybrid — May 20th, to be precise, turning one hundred and sixty-two years old.

"Just shopping for the party Elena's trying to bail out on." Caroline replied, truly determined to set this birthday party for her lonely hybrid best friend; she practically deserves it after trying to search for Stefan for too long now.

Minerva chuckles good-heartedly while walking down the stairs and goes to the kitchen, where Alaric and Elena are already present at the dining table. Ever since Aunt Jenna's and Uncle John's tragic demise, Alaric Saltzman officially became the substitute to be Elena and Jeremy's legal guardian.

"Yeah, well, isn't she a little old for a birthday party?" Minerva teased them, knowing that Elena Gilbert hasn't even reached the legal age yet, like her.

"Aren't you a little young to go to college?" Caroline sassed in return, knowing that her friend on the other end of the line is only seventeen now.

"Yep, seventeen years too young." Minerva giggles adorably at her success when she knows that she shouldn't even be in college until she's either eighteen or nineteen. Although she's too brilliant to remain in high school. Therefore, she truly is Rosie Kartwright's doppelgänger — a new version.

"Rosie never even said yes about the party in the first place." Elena piped in; because she's too busy trying to trail after Stefan Salvatore's whereabouts. She doesn't exactly have the idle time to attend and celebrate her birthday.

"She was never going to, Elena, which is why I planned it as Minerva's belated birthday party too anyway. And my mom wants you to call her."

Minerva asked, genuinely hopeful for it, "Oh, did she find something?"

"An animal attack in Memphis. It's the third one this week in Tennessee." Caroline informed them of the breaking news of a new hope for the search.

"Okay, and you're sure it's a vampire?" Minerva asked as she nods slowly.

Alaric is making fresh hot coffee at the counter and they exchange looks.

"Yes, but that doesn't mean that it's Klaus." Caroline replied with a shrug. Klaus Mikaelson, an Original, is a true hybrid now and he has taken Stefan with him as a price for offering his extraordinary blood to cure Damon's bite. Therefore, Damon owes Stefan for saving his life from the werewolf bite.